Telescopic crib



May 29, 1951 D. HALL 2,555,032

TELESCOPIC CRIB Filed May 31, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Dianne Hall WWW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. HALL TELESCOPIC CRIB In vent0r Dionne Hall May 29, 1951 Filed May 51, 1949 Patented May 29, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT @FFEE TELESCOPIC CRIB Dianne Hall, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 31, 1949, Serial No. 96,227

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in crib constructions.

An object of this invention is to effectively raise and lower the sides of a crib either with or without the bottom thereof having the mattress thereon and to retain the sides in the selected raised or lowered position; the sides and/or ends of the crib being capable of raising at least twice as high as a crib with conventional sides to prevent the baby from falling from the crib.

Another object of this invention is to illuminate the interior of the crib so that it is unnecessary to operate an overhead or floor lamp in order to view the child in the crib, and to lessen drafts in the crib by the use of sides which include panels at the lower part of each.

Another object of this invention is to provide as a component part of a crib at least one side which has an extensible panel disposed therein and which panel is' held in selected extended positions by means of ratchet-dog constructions so that by a simple manipulation the panel is retained in the proper position in accordance with the prerogative of the user of the device and to adapt the same principle for use in connection with an attachment which may be used on an existing structure whether it be a crib, sofa, or other article of furniture such as a bed.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred form of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a device em- 'bodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of one of the sides of the crib shown in Figure l with portions being broken away in section to illustrate "detail of construction;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows, illustrating further details of construction;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1 and in the direction of the arrows, showing particularly the illumination device for the interior of the crib; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a slightly modified form of the invention, illustrating particularly its adaptability for use in connection with existing articles of furniture.

The present invention relates to a device of the broad general class known as cribs for. babies which has features of adjustability whereby the mattress together with the sides may be raised and lowered, or if it is found desirable, simply the .sides may be raised in order to enlarge the effective enclosed volume of the crib.

In Figure 1 there is a crib generally indicated at It. 'This crib has four corner posts 12, I4, 16, and I8, respectively. The corner posts have cross members 28 disposed adjacent the floor level of the device for strengthening purposes. There are four sides disposedbetween the corner posts generally indicated at 22, 24, 2E and 28, respectively. The constructions 22 and 26 form ends for the crib and the constructions 24 and 28 may be con; sidered properly the sides of the crib.

Referring to Figure 2, the side 28 is illustrated in detail. Ratchets 3'0 are disposed on the inner sides of each post l4 and I6 and there are steps 3| fixed at the upper ends of the said ratchets. Means for holding the side 28 (the identical structure being provided for the side 24) is disposed in the said side 28 and engages the ratchets 39. This means consists of a pair of similar dogs 36, one provided adjacent each end. member 38 which forms a part of the side 28. The end members 38 have openings 69 therein through which the dog 36 passes in order to engage the ratchet 39. A link 42 is pivoted to the ratchet 35 and. also to a crank 43 which has a handle portion 44 ex tending through the front 46 of the side 28. A small leaf spring 49 reacts on the handle 4i constantly opposing the operation thereof. This spring is secured at one end to the bracket 51! which is fixed to the exterior surface of the front 46 and which acts as a guard for the handle 44. Upon operation of the handle 44, the link 52 will be operated, thereby moving the dog 35 into and out of enga ement with the teeth of the ratchet 33'. This permits the said side 28 to be raised as a unit and'lowered by means of gravity. The construction of the. side 23 also includes a back portion 52, the front 45 and back 52 having the end members 38 disposed therebetween.

The end members 38 act as guides for a panel which is extensibly disposed with respect to the said side 28. This panel may be and preferably is constructed so thata number of bars 55 extend between horizontal upper and lower member 55 and 58, respectively. The end bars or members 6!] have ratchets formed on the inner surfaces thereof and these ratchets or tooth members 62 are engaged by dogs 64 to retain the panel in the selected extended position with respect to the side 28. The dogs 64 are pivoted by means of pivot pins 66 to the front 46 and back 52 of the side 28 and have operating links 58 pivoted thereto. These operating links are also pivoted to a single operator 16 which is mounted for pivotal movement in the front 46. Accordingly, upon, a single stroke of operation of the or extended with respect to each other to either engage or disengage the dogs 84 with the ratchet or tooth members 62. This holds the panel extended in pre-selected positions, the stops 32 and 34 limiting upward travel.

In order that vision may be had to the interior of the crib, a battery case 12 is disposed on the front 46 of the side 23 by a conventional bracket and has a switch i l carried thereby. Conductors 16 and 18, respectively, extend from the battery case and terminate in a lamp socket 83 which is disposed on the inside surface of the back member 52, facing the interior of the crib.

In the preferred crib construction, the mattress holder members may be secured to the sides 28 and 24 respectively, so that the mattress, together with the holding structure, is raised and lowered when the two sides 24 and 28 are moved upwardly or downwardly. However, it is apparent that such construction may render the operation of the sides 24 and 28 difficult due to the weight involvedin a mattress and supporting structure therefor. Accordingly, the mattress and mattress supporting structure may be secured to the ends 22 and 26, respectively, which do not move vertically.

Each end 22 and 26 is of similar structure. There is a panel 98 extensively disposed between the front 92 and back 94 of the end structure which is held in selected elevated positions through the medium of ratchets 96 along each side of the end together with dogs (unillustrated) which are operated by a handle 98 in a manner similar to the operation of the previously .described dogs 64.

When it is desired to utilize the general principle involved in this invention on existing structures which may be either beds, cribs, articles of furniture, or the like, a special adaptation is utilized. Reference to Figure 5 shows a side Hi having front and back members E02 and IE4, respectively, with end guides I66 and H18 disposed between the front and back I02 and [9 h Depending brackets H0 and H2, respectively, are fixed to the front I92 and have C-clamps H4 and I Hi, respectively, at the ends thereof adapted to lockingly engage any suitable or convenient furniture component.

A panel E28 is extensibly disposed between the front and back 502 and Hit and has tooth members or ratchets I22 and in at the ends thereof together with a number of bars file which extend between the upper and lower horizontal members.

A dog is mounted for pivotal movement on either the front or the back and is indicated at I30. There are two dogs supplied, one of which being illustrated. Each dog engages the teeth of the ratchets I22 and I24 to hold the panel in the selected elevated position. An operating link I32 extends from each dog and terminates in a construction similar to that shown in Figure 2 for operation of the links simultaneously, and this construction has the operating handle 18 disposed on the outside surface of the front i522. To retain the dog I39 and the unshown dog in place firmly against the teeth of the ratchet members, a leaf spring i313 is carried by either the front N12 or the back W3 and presses the dog against the teeth of the ratchet or tooth members.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A babys crib comprising an outer frame having corner posts, sides disposed between said corner posts, at least one of said sides and one of said posts having means operatively connected therewith for retaining said side in selected raised positions including a ratchet, a dog engaging said ratchet, means intermediate the ends of said side for operating said dog, a panel carried by said side in extensible relationship therewith, and means secured to said side and said panel retaining said panel in selected extended positions with respect to said side.

2. As a component part of a babys crib, a side having opposite vertical end guides, a panel disposed between said guides and including vertical end members with ratchets on the inner edges thereof, said panel being extensibly operable between said guides with respect to said side, and means carried by said side and engaging said ratchets for retaining said panel in selected raised positions.

3. As a component part of a babys crib, a side having opposite vertical end guides, a panel disposed between said guides and including vertical end members with ratchets on the inner edges thereof, said panel being extensibly operable between said guides with respect to said side, a pair of dogs pivoted to said side and engaging said ratchets, links pivoted to said dogs, and an opera tor carried by said side and having said links attached thereto for operating said dogs.

4. In a babys crib construction which includes a plurality of end posts and sides disposed between said end posts, at least one of said sides comprising front and back members with vertical end guides disposed therebetween, an inwardly extending ratchet disposed on opposite posts, dogs pivoted between the front and back at each end of said side and said guides having openings therein with said dogs being passed through said openings to engage said ratchets, and means carried by said side and operatively connected with said dogs to actuate said dogs.

5. In a babys crib construction which includes a plurality of endposts and sides disposed between said end posts, at least one of said sides comprising front and back members with vertical end guides disposed therebetween, an inwardly extending ratchet disposed on opposite posts, dogs pivoted between the front and back at each end of said side and said guides having openings therein with said dogs being passed through said openings to engage said ratchets, means carried by said side and operativeiy connected with said dogs to actuate said dogs, a panel disposed between said front and back and said guides, said panel being extensibly disposed with respect to said sides, toothed members secured at opposite ends of said panel, dogs pivoted to said side and engaged in said toothed members to retain said panel extended with respect to said side, and means carried by said side for operating said last-mentioned dogs.

DIAN NE HALL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 88,298 Inwood Mar. 30, 1869 107,77d Gregory Sept. 27, 1870 508,240 Records Nov. '7, 1893 2355,34!) Newman Nov. 30, 1948 

